Champagne

Uncared for vinyl will not perform better than leather. It will dry out, get brittle and crack.

One of the main reasons the Porsche leather covers had problems, is because they were badly designed. The other main reason is because the vinyl and foam cores dry out and crack.
The later dash cores are much better. The high heat and lack of humidity simply means you will need to condition more, that's all.

Paul

RCinXS

After recovering in leather 3 times in the last 20 years doing it the factory way, decided to french the vents.

The leather can't pull away like the original.

Wish I new more about glueing and forming to complex curves.

The seams were pretty straight when I sewed it up.

Really looks better than the close up pix.

Rob M Budd

I agree.
Vinyl or leather, keep clean & out of the sun.

vanster

Very interesting comments....what about the ringer? ALCANTRA??? Kinder to flex and cracking?
I have never seen a 928 dash finished this way but Robert Budd does offer it at a slight premium.
Or what about a leather/alcantra combination ( the vent area done in alcantra only. Porsche built the
935 race cars with alcantra or something none glare like this up against the windshield vents.
I have a '00 Jetta (city car) and the dash is a plastic/vinyl that is large/padded and black in a black car. Never any issues in 11 years. How has the technology improved. Also newer cars don't seem to have the out gassing (foggy windows) like older cars including the 928?

Chuck Schreiber

I crack the garage door most days when I'm home. About a foot or so and then stop the door. It stays a little cooler. The last few weeks, the garage door button outside the door has time and temp on it. It has been reading 104 degrees. Hotter than dog $%%T!!!

heinrich

I bought the last worldwide available black leather dash in the Porsche box a decade ago. I applied only Leatherique products, and only very seldom. The dash is still like brand new. I agree good modern vinyl is better than the leather found pre-89, but so is modern leather. Never use commercial products containing water like armorall, on leather. And never use any product other than soapy water, on vinyl. And it will last.

heinrich

Post-89, there are inserts from the factory that solve the vent problem. The dash is slightly redesigned only at the vents.

tv

I can't see using vinyl in a car like this. No reason why a well done leather dash can't last if done right and cared for. And Alcantara is an alternative as mentioned. I have not read of any problems on other top end cars produced in the last 10 years. Something improved, technique or chemicals.



Also there are many different levels of leather. I have done some work with leather and have checked out many sample books from many different wholesalers/manufacturers. Big range in quality and process - some were paper thin and so smooth they didn't seem like leather anymore. I like a much thicker leather. Go in a department store see the difference in price of a flimsy leather coat and the top-end coats that they have chained to the stands.


Same difference I have seen between the leather in my euro vs. what is in a Porsche showroom today.

Rob M Budd

When shopping leather for automotive use, one has to be very careful. Leather vendors often pass off untreated regular sofa leather, many types of vinyl, and even Alcantara as automotive grade.

I recently found out nearly ALL Ultrasuede products available from several of my vendors are not automotive grade and not treated for UV. Yet they will tell you it is, some out of ignorance, some just plain lie to you.

I've read that Alcantara in some 10+ year old Volvos is holding up well. I've also read of instances of fading. Some of the Alcantara being sold for car interiors in the aftermarket is only interior furniture grade. So one has got to be careful when sourcing this stuff.

For leather and vinyl. It's all in the care you give it. The sun is unforgiving although some manufacturers need to share the blame.

The issues with Porsche leather shrinkage is apparent in this 2004 996 leather dash.
I've redone a number of 996 dashes.

tv

Is the treatment for leather a substance that can be applied to the surface after the fact or is it to toxic or actually part of the dye? (if you know, I will look into it when I get some time) And what about coat leather - not automotive but often does a lot more duty in direct sunlight. My 10 year old leather coat still looks new (high end coat - get what you pay for)

Personally, if I found a leather that I liked for feel and looks and color and it wasn't automotively treated I would still use it and keep the leather out of the sun.


An alcantara dash I saw just this morning, lots of little vents, looks nice;

Champagne

I guess it's our day to agree on most things Rob

I use the Alcantara brand exclusively, but even then, you have to be careful, since Alcantara also makes residential lines. So you can be sold true Alcantara, which in fact is not suited for automotive use. The true automotive Alcantara is quite a bit more expensive than all the others, which is why many dealers try to substitute.

I have been importing my own leather and doing the final protective coatings in house. That is the only way I could really be sure that my leather was to the standard I was looking for. Tanning processes have evolved, but mostly the coating technology is where you can make the real difference.

The main problem now, is that China is buying most of the leather from Europe and also from South America. They do produce all the grades and some if it can be really nice, but you can never really tell what you are getting.

But at the end of the day, I still maintain that the design of the cover is key. A well tailored cover that you don't have to stretch to fit in the first place, will have a better chance to survive.
Still needs to be cared for though





Paul

vanster

Care and Feeding of a leather interior .....
It appears to me that if you cover the dash with alcantara you are committed to do the glove box and the consul as well, doing one and not the other is going to look like a quilt. Is it too much alcantara?
Under normal conditions should the new leather / alcantara dash be treated every time the car is washed?
What is the ideal leather product to keep the leather healthy?